USA Banner
  U.S. flag
              An official website of the United States government Here's how you knowOfficial US Government Icon
              **Official websites use .gov**A **.gov** website belongs to an official government organization in the United States.
            Secure Site Icon
              **Secure .gov websites use HTTPS**
                  A **lock** ( A locked padlock ) or **https://** means you’ve safely connected to the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites. 
 U.S. Department of Transportation Icon United States Department of Transportation
 Search DOT
            Search
                        About FRAAbout FRA
  

        
              Overview
                Organization
                Program Offices
                Resource Center
                Web Policies and Notices
                Contact Us
                Communications
                Governmental AffairsFeatured
  

        
              Bipartisan Infrastructure Law Information from FRA
                Careers
                Leadership Profiles
                Organizational Chart
                Newsroom
                Press Releases
                Speeches
                Fact Sheets
                TestimonyRailroad SafetyFeatured
  

        
              Train Horn Rule/Quiet Zones
                Public Blocked Crossings Incident Reporter
                Drug & Alcohol
                Safety Data
                C3RS
                High-Hazard Flammable Train Route AssessmentRailroad Safety
  

        
              Overview
                Railroad Crossing Safety & Trespass Prevention
                Accident Data & Reporting, Investigations
                Divisions
                Partnerships & ProgramsRail Network DevelopmentFeatured
  

        
              High-Speed Rail
                Amtrak
                Environmental Reviews
                GIS Maps
                RuralRail Network Development
  

        
              Overview
                Passenger Rail
                Freight Rail
                Environment
                Planning
                International
                Maps & Data
                Training & GuidanceResearch & DevelopmentFeatured
  

        
              R&D Current Projects
                Positive Train Control
                Hazardous Materials
                Highway-Rail Grade Crossing
                Close Call Reporting
                Broad Agency AnnouncementResearch & Development
  

        
              Overview
                Program Areas
                R&D ReportsLegislation & RegulationsFeatured
  

        
              FAST Act
                National Rail Plan
                Proposed State Rail Plan
                Civil PenaltiesLegislation & Regulations
  

        
              Overview
                Legislation
                Regulations & Rulemaking
                Buy AmericaGrants & LoansFeatured
  

        
              FRA Discretionary Grant Program Tool
                Discretionary Grant Calendar
                Railroad Capital Project Guidance
                FRA Webinars
                DOT GrantsGrants & Loans
  

        
              Overview
                Grant Programs
                Applying for Grants
                Resources for Grant Recipients
                Training & GuidanceFRA eLibraryeLibrary
  

        
              Accidents & Fatalities
                Compliance
                Conferences & Presentations
                Emergency & Safety
                Enforcement & Litigation
                Publications & Policy
                Reports
                OtherMenu Home


            
            In This Section
        eLearning: Attention
                The Attention Game
                Attention & Distraction
                                Attention: Definition and Examples
                Tasks & Demands
                Distraction: Definition and Examples
                Strategies to Manage Distractions
                The Cost of Distraction
                                First person: Distraction and its Consequences
                Attention Related Accidents
                BNSF coal train collision
                Metrolink 111 collision with UP. Chatsworth. Sept 2008
                Canadian National collision, Two Harbors MN Sept 2010.
                HiRail collision, Rockville, MD. Jan 2010
                Rear end collision, Mineral Springs NC
                Pedestrian fatality, West Jordan, UT
                Rear end collision, Westville IN
                Derailment, Bronx NY Dec 2013
                Port Authority collision, Hoboken NJ, May 2011
                Santiago de Compostela derailment, July 2013
                Amtrak 188 Derailment May 2015
                Bad Aibling, GER Collision, February 2016
                Human Systems Integration
                                Overview
                Human Factors Engineering
                Safety
                Training
                HSI Topics
                                User Centered Design
                Examples of Well-Designed Process & Technologies
                HSI Guidelines
                                Rail
                Air
                Road
                Displays
                HSI Resources
                                Tools
                Bibliography
                HSI Methods
                                Overview
                Field Observation
                Link Analysis
                Functional Analysis
                Activity Analysis
                Workload Assessment
                Cognitive Task Analysis
                Verbal Protocol Analysis
                Rapid Prototyping
                Experimentation
                Usability Assessment
                
                HSI Topic: Safety
    

    
    
          One HSI domain that intersects with Human Factors Engineering is Safety.

*Safety factors consist of those system design characteristics that serve to minimize the potential for mishaps causing death or injury to operators, maintainers and supporters or threaten the survival and/or operation of the system*. (Defense Acquisition Guidebook, 6.3.4)

Safety can be addressed early in system development by anticipating and “designing out” potential risks.  Safety can also be addressed through design of work processes and creation of a safety culture (Reason, 1998) to identify and mitigate risks to safety for the life of the system.

**Culture of Safety**

Safety culture is an environment in which individuals feel comfortable reporting incidents and sharing information that can improve safety, without fear of reprimand. The approach is an integral aspect of improving safety of rail operations. It can also help to minimize issues associated with operator attention and distraction.

Operators have reported a fear of reprimand for mistakes and rule violations, and the perception that operator negligence often contributes to mistakes. Such fear can inhibit individuals from reporting and sharing information that could be an opportunity to learn and enhance safety of operations.

To optimize safety, the railroad industry requires a culture in which everyone from the executive level to the operator level feels responsible for safety and takes steps to identify unsafe conditions and intervene to address them. An effective safety culture is characterized by shared emphasis on safety, mutual trust, open communication and incident reporting, and leadership commitment and involvement.

Creating a culture of safety in the rail industry requires a continuous process of improvement and focus on safety that includes:

Recognizing that operator work is intrinsically complex and hazardous.
	Creating an environment that is blame free, and recognizes that accidents are usually due to multiple intersecting factors (e.g., human, technical, organizational) that create conditions for human error.
	Encouraging, valuing, and reinforcing reporting of mistakes and near misses and removing fear of reprimand.
	Encouraging collaboration across all levels of the organization, from rail dispatcher, to engineer, to senior executive to find solutions to safety concerns.
	Optimizing work processes by encouraging operators to point out policies and procedure that may create conditions that compromise safety.
	Committing organizational resources (staff, money, time) to address safety concerns, including those associated with fatigue, distraction, and divided attention.
              Sources
      
                              
                  
                  Defense Acquisition Guidebook (2016). 6.3.5.1. Environment, Safety and Occupational Health (ESOH) Overview. Retrieved from the DAU web site https://acc.dau.mil/CommunityBrowser.aspx?id=510176#6.3.4
	Reason, J. (1988). Achieving a safe culture: theory and practice. Work & Stress. 12(3): 293-306.
      
    
          Last updated: Thursday, October 24, 2019 U.S. DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

**Federal Railroad Administration**

1200 NEW JERSEY AVENUE, SE

WASHINGTON, DC 20590

202-366-4000Subscribe to email updates
                    About Us
  

        
              About FRA
                Careers
                Contact Us
                FRA Civil Rights
                Doing Business with FRA
                Grants and Financial Assistance
                Safety Management TeamsAreas of Interest
  

        
              Bipartisan Infrastructure Law
                Safety Data
                Buy America
                Operation Lifesaver
                Railroad Safety Advisory Committee
                FRA Secure Area
                Proactive DisclosureI Am A...
  

        
              Railroad Traveler
                Railroad Inspector
                Reporter
                Educator/StudentPolicies, Rights, Legal
  

        
              About DOT
                Budget and Performance
                Civil Rights
                FOIA
                Information Quality
                No FEAR Act
                Office of Inspector General
                Privacy Policy
                USA.gov
                Vulnerability Disclosure Policy
                Web Policies and Notices
                Web Standards